Amid growing concerns over China, the US has announced that it will cooperate more closely with India in the Indian Ocean region. United States Deputy Secretary of State Kurt M. Campbell said, “We haven’t really announced this yet, but I can tell you this for the first time, the United States and India and others are going to hold a session on the Indian Ocean, and we’re going to talk about what our mutual concerns are, how we can work together….”.
He was speaking at the House Foreign Affairs Committee Republicans. The top Biden admin official, pointed out, “This is the new frontier, working more closely with a partner like India in the Indian Ocean”.
The Indian Ocean is one of the most crucial waterways for global trade, with significant volumes of shipping traffic passing through it daily.
According to estimates, 60 percent of the world’s maritime trade transits through the Indian Ocean, which includes one-third of the world’s container cargo, and two-thirds of the world’s oil shipments. About 36 million barrels per day move through its chokepoints, which equates to about 40% of the world’s oil supply and 64% of oil trade.
China has also been increasing its presence in the region, with its trade, especially oil trade at risk. It has a military base in Djibouti that became operational in 2017. From Gwadar to Chittagong, it has increased engagement. It is estimated that, in the next 2-4 years, China might have a permanent aircraft carrier in the region.
Another area of concern has been the Red Sea area, which has seen increased volatility since last year with Houthis launching attacks on vessels, including commercial shipments. The attacks have been in response to Israeli actions in Gaza, in the aftermath of the Hamas terror attack of last year. Vessels of the US, UK, Israel, Greece, Japan, Liberia, and Marshall Islands etc have come under attack by Houthis, disrupting the wider maritime traffic in the region.
Interestingly, Houthis have not targeted any Chinese-flagged vessels. While no evidence exists, analysts say, a volatile Red Sea situation helps Beijing to divert attention from its actions on Taiwan. Strategic affairs commentator Girish Linganna said the situation in the Red Sea “shifts the international focus away from Taiwan, where Beijing’s assertive moves have raised fears of potential military conflict.”
Maritime security analyst, author and former Director of Naval Intelligence Commodore Ranjit Rai (Retd) concurred with the assessment. He said, “I have not seen any attack on a Chinese merchantman, and this area is possibly kept volatile, which deflects attention from the Taiwanese crisis. China, on its part, has stated it will take the island even through force.”
Sidhant Sibal-wionews.com